Halifax New Year’s Eve Double Homicide Linked to Fugitive Wanted in 2019 Toronto Shooting

Matthew Costain, who killed his girlfriend and her father before taking his own life, was wanted for a Toronto nightclub shooting and had a history of violence and criminal activity.

• Halifax police identified Matthew Costain, 39, as the suspect in the New Year’s Eve killings of Cora-Lee Smith, 40, and her father, Bradford Downey, 73, in a case of intimate partner violence.
• Costain died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after the double homicide, which occurred in downtown Halifax on December 31, 2024.
• He was wanted by Toronto police for a 2019 nightclub shooting that injured four people and faced multiple charges, including illegal firearm possession and aggravated assault.
• Costain had a lengthy criminal history in Ontario, including armed robbery, firearms offenses, and domestic violence, but no record in Nova Scotia.
• The community of North Preston, where the victims lived, is mourning the loss, with local organizations and churches offering support and counseling services.

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